The Doctors Are In

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Physicians are among the most respected and credible professionals in American society, so it's not surprising that the White House likes to tout the American Medical Association's support for health care reform. It helped lead to this not-so-subtle event this morning.

On the cusp of a key legislative push, President Barack Obama on Monday filled the Rose Garden with doctors supportive of his health care overhaul, saying "nobody has more credibility with the American people on this issue than you do." [...]

For a visual plug from some medical pros, the White House arranged for Obama to have some 150 doctors representing all 50 states arrayed in the sunsplashed lawn area just outside the West Wing. To make sure no one watching at home or catching news footage later would miss the point, the physicians wore their white medical coats for the cameras.

"When you cut through all the noise and all the distractions that are out there, I think what's most telling is that some of the people who are most supportive of reform are the very medical professionals who know the health care system best," said Obama, flanked by four doctors on stage for good measure.

For good measure, let's not overlook where those four doctors who stood alongside the president happen to practice medicine. Let's see, there was...

* Dr. Hershey Garner (from Sen. Blanche Lincoln's home state of Arkansas)

* Dr. Mona Mangat (from Sen. Bill Nelson's home state of Florida)

* Dr. Richard A. Evans (from Sen. Olympia Snowe's home state of Maine)

* Dr. Amanda McKinney (from Sen. Ben Nelson's home state of Nebraska).

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that these four were not just chosen at random. Call it a hunch.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/